It’s a gentle forward bend, and a mild inversion if your head is below the level of your heart.

It is, potentially, a wonderfully relaxing, quietening pose. It can enable you to release tension from the whole of your spine as well as the shoulder blades, and encouraging a deep sense of inner peace and security.

However, I notice in my classes that some people struggle with this pose. Maybe their heads don’t reach the ground, or their bum is sticking up high in the air. Read more…

So, you practise yoga and you love the feeling of stretching out and releasing tightness from your body.

You’re noticing that you can bend and move more easily than you used to; you’ve re-established a connection with your breath to enable you to relax; and you’re enjoying the quiet sense of resilience and peacefulness which a yoga practice can bring.

Maybe you’ve noticed shifts in the perception of your emotions, energy levels and thoughts as and after you’ve practised yoga on the mat. Maybe you’ve felt elated; other times jittery and a bit unsettled; other times blissfully tranquil.

But just how and why do these stretches, twists, balances, breathing and relaxation have such a deep effect? Read more…

Yes I teach yoga, yes I practise yoga every day, but (whisper it quietly) I’ve still got quite tight hamstrings; back bends challenge me; and my lower back can feel quite stiff. And I’m fine with that.

Those size 6, unbelievably flexible goddesses of yoga, adorned with mystical tattoos and flowing locks, with a look of serene peace on their faces even though they’re hanging upside down, seemingly balancing on a few fingers?

The prevalence of such images leads directly to common misconceptions about yoga and lots of people who would really benefit from a therapeutic approach to yoga might never step into a yoga class because they’re afraid they won’t fit in.

These preconceptions lead to three common reasons which could be putting you, or someone you know and love, off trying yoga: Read more…

Sitting down all day is bad for your back – it’s time to release that tension

Does this scenario sound familiar?

It’s the end of another busy day and your back is in two. You’ve been tethered to your desk all day. You’ve eaten lunch at your desk instead of getting out for some fresh air and to stretch your legs …. again!

And now you’ve got that all-too-familiar nagging ache in your lower back. Tension spreads up to your shoulders and your neck feels stiff.

So spring has sprung! We’ve just past the Spring Equinox, so it’s officially spring The two equinoxes – in spring and autumn – mark a perfect point of balance in the year: when day and night are equal.

So it’s a good time to reflect on whether we have a sense of balance in all aspects of our lives. And as trees, flowers and plant-life everywhere are springing into action all around us, it’s also a wonderful time of the year to think about our own growth and how we can make positive change in our lives.